Sectional display device



Dec. 25, 1928. 1,696,342

E. O. BULMAN SECTIONAL DI SPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 28, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet l AWummg v Dec. 25, 1928. 1,696,342

E. o. BULMAN SEG'fIONAL DI SPLAY DEVI CE Filed Dec. 28, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 2 'I 7 4 O t c, g If) T 4'.

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Patented Dec. 25, 1925?.

tTE STA ES FA'TENT OFFICE SECTIONAL DISPLAY DEVICE.

Application filed December 28, 1925. Serial No. 78,050.

This invention relates to a sectional display rack which is ofparticular utility in displaying merchandise of various kinds, and maybe used in grocery stores for holding and displaying vegetables or thelike or any other type of merchandise which may be conveniently heldtherein. It is a primary object and purpose of the present invention toprovide a rack which may be made up of a series of superimposed sectionseach being of identical construction so that the rack may be made anydesired or required height by use of a greater or less number ofsections. A. further object of the invention is to make the sections insuch manner that when a plurality of the same are assembled to make adisplay rack the articles held in each section, not only are shown anddisplayed to good advantage, but the same in each section are veryeasily accessible for removal when a sale is made. A still vfurtherobject of the invention is to construct the rack sections in acomparatively simple and economical manner, each section being made upof bars of metal all of the elements of a section being economical toproduce and easily produced and connected together for the production ofthe rack sections. Many other objects and purposes and novel features ofconstruction and arrangements of parts for attaining these desired ends,as well as others not at this time set forth, will be apparent as anunderstanding of the invention is had from the following descrip tiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which, s

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rack section, a plurality of which areused in making a complete rack.

Fig. 2 shows in longitudinal section, two of the sections disassembledvand partially nested together, it being a yaluablefeature of theinvention thatthe sections which make up a rack may be quickly andeasily disassembled and partially nested so as to reduce the spacerequired in shipment.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of an assembled rack.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section through the rackshown-in Fig. 3, and

the end portions of the bars 3.

spective, illustrating the manner in which sections may be superimposedupon each other and held in position.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figuresof the drawmgs.

In the construction of the rack a number of sections are made each beingexactly duplicates of each other. In the construction of such sectiontwo horizontal bars 1 of flat metal are provided which, at each end, arebent upwardly at right angles, making the upright posts 2. The bars 1and the posts 2 thereof are spaced apart a desired distance and near theupper ends of each pair of posts 2 a cross bar 3 of flat metal islocated and secured, preferably by spot welding, to the posts, a shortlength of each post 2 extending above the upper edge of its connectedcross bar 3. A pair of U-shape members each comprising. a horizontalrail 4 and upwardly and inwardly inclined legs 5 are attached, one ateach side of the section the same inclining downwardly and outwardlyfrom the posts, as shown, the ends of the legs 5 lying over and beingsecured to I These U shape members are formed preferably from angleiron. Ateach end of the section and near the lower-ends of posts 2, across bar 6 is located paralleling the upper bars 3 and likewise beingspot welded to the posts 2. Each of the bars 6 at each. end is continuedand bent upwardly and outwardly, as indicated at 7, until the leg 5 isreached, the ends of the parts 7 being spot weldedto a flange of legs 5,as best shown in Fig. 1.,

I The construction as described makes an open'rigid frame. The sectionis completed by spaced apart horizontal end bars 8 disposed bet-wcen thebars 3 and 6 at each end, the same being suitably connected by spotwelding to the post 6 and the parts 3 and 7.

,A plurality of spacedapart parallel base cross bars 10 are disposedbetweenand spot welded to the members 1 each ofthe bars 10 beingcontinued-upwardly and outwardly at an incline, as indicated at 11, theends of the parts 11 coming to the rails 4 and having a weldedconnectionthereto.

This makes a complete section of the rack. A plurality of these sectionsmay belocated one above the other and to provide a support for onesection above the lower section, and to hold it in proper relation tosaid lower section, bars 12 of angular form are disposed between theposts 2, the horizontal flanges ot' the bars 12 having openings 13 neareach end to pass over the upper projecting ends of the posts 2, asshown. The opening 13 in the bars 12 are spaced to incline the posts 2outwardly substantially the thickness of the posts so that the lowerends of the posts of one section will lie between the upper ends 'of theposts of the next low or section, Two of the bars 12 are used one ateach side of each section. The next upper section is then placed uponand supported by bars 12, the upturned flanges of the bars 12 preventingany movement of the upper section with respect to the lower section inone direction, while the projecting upper ends of the posts 2 betweenwhich. the lower ends of the posts 2 of the neiit upper section arelocated, hold the upper section from any movementin the other directionwith respect to the lower section. hen a number of these sections havebeen placed one above the other to any desired or required height, a top1% in the form of a flat board or any other desired form, may be locatedover the uppermost section and carried and supported by the upper bars12 at the upper side of the uppermostsection. If desired, the lowermostsection may be equipped with suitable castors 15 for the purposes ofeasy movement of the rack over the floor though the addition of thesecastors is not in any way essential to the invention.

This construction of rack is very practical and economical from amanufacturing standpoint and, when the sections are assembled, a rack isproduced in each section of which, articles to be held and displayed maybe readily placed while such articles are easily accessible for removalWhenever a sale thereof is made. The disassembly of the rack sections iseasy, requiring no tools of any character. When the rack-is to beshipped from the factory to the customer it is sent in disassembledform, the bars 12 being placed in the bottom of a section and thesections being partially nested in each other, as shown in Fig. 2. Thatis, with the bars 12- rei'n'ovedeach section is open at its upper sideand it is possible to force the lower part of onese'ction into a lowersection, the ends of the lower section springing outwardly somewhat soas to permit this partial nesting. This greatly reduces the spacerequired for crating and shipment and is a valuable, practical featureof the invention.

The parts of this rack being niade of fiat bar metal alleasilyfabricated and welded together, the cost of manufacture is low and aparticularly strong and durab'ie rack is produced. The rack has provedexceptionally efficient and practical in actual practice. The appendedclaims define the invention which is to be considered comprehensive ofall forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. A display rack comprising a series of superimposed sections, each ofsaid sections having a bottom, ends, and upwardly and outwardly inclinedsides, each of the ends be ing provided with two spaced apart upwardlyextending projections at its upper edges, and bars of angular shapelocated between said projections and having openings through which saidprojections pass, on which the next higher sect-ion may be supported andheld.

2. A rack section including two spaced apart parallel bottom bars havingeach end bent upwardly at right angles to makevertical posts, twoU-shape members, the free ends of the legs of which are connected to theposts at each side of the section a short distance below the upper endsof said posts, said U-shape members extending d0wnwardly and outwardlyat an angle to the horizontal, a plurality of bars disposed transverselyof the bottom bars in spaced apart relation to each other and connectedto said bottom bars, the end portions thereof being bent upwardly andoutwardly at an angle and connected at their ends to said U-shapemembers, and cross bars located horizontally in spaced apart relation toeach other across the posts at the ends of said section, being securedthereto and to said legs of the U-shape members. i

3. A rack, comprising a series of superimposed sections each having abottom, vertical ends, and upwardly and outwardly extending sides, theupper and outer edges of which are located in a plane substantiallymidway between the upper and lower edges of the ends, each of said endshaving two spaced apart projections extending above the upper edges ofsaid ends, and two angle bars disposed between each lower section andits next upper section, each having a horizontal flange and an outervertical flange located between and connected to said projections, thehorizontal flanges of said bars having openings for the passage of saidproject-ions, said horizontal bars lying lengthwise of a lower sectionand serving as a support and a means to hold the next upper sectionagainst disconnection from said lower section over which it is located.

4. A rack section having a bottom, sides and ends, two spaced apartprojections extending upwardly from each respective end, two reinforcingbars each having an opening at each end and each adapted to extendacross the top of the rack with a projection at each of the rackextending through an opening at each end of the bar whereby said barsare detachably connected in place to prevent spreading of the ends andto support a like section above it.

5. A rack section having a bottom, out- 5 wardly diverging sides, andends extending upwardly above the frame of the tops of said sides, saidends being flexible to permit outward bending, and a detachablereinforcing bar extending over the top of the section and detachablysecured at its respective ends 10 tothe said ends of the rack.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ELVAH o. BULMAN.

